Here, the veteran chef tells how he built up one of the most successful seafood restaurants in the Scottish capital, and his thirst for expansion. Business name: Chef and owner of Ondine Oyster & Grill Location: Seaton House, St Andrews, and Edinburgh Business Description: Ondine Oyster & Grill, specialising in seafood and shellfish, was opened in 2009 by renowned owner and chef Roy Brett, one of Scotland's leading figures in the food revolution. It has since become an institution within the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. We are delighted to announce that in early 2025, Ondine will be relocating to a brand-new venue in Edinburgh city centre, and opening at Seaton House Hotel in St Andrews in spring 2025. After 15 very successful years in the current premises, we have decided it is time to move. This is to ensure Ondine's customers enjoy the superior dining experience they deserve. In recent years this has been hampered by the ongoing works to the façade of the building that is occupied in part by Ondine. With no end in sight to these works I have decided relocation to new premises is important for Ondine's loyal customers. READ MORE: Our new opening in St Andrews in spring 2025 will be situated near the first tee at the world-famous Old Course, where the first ever game of golf was played 600 years ago. Seaton House offers 5-star luxury hospitality in the heart of historic St Andrews, with spectacular views across West Sands beach. Ondine Oyster & Grill will be a restaurant within the hotel working with the finest local producers from both land and sea. We also have Old Tom's Bar, providing... Brian DonnellyPhotos: Remembering Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Courtland Sutton's surge is helping rookie Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos make a playoff push
Sri Lanka’s young innovators achieved a remarkable milestone at the prestigious Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA) 2024, held in Brunei from 4 to 7 December. Competing against representatives from 17 Asia-Pacific countries, three Sri Lankan students stood out for their exceptional creativity and technological ingenuity, securing significant accolades and bringing pride to the nation. Dasindu Sithmira Mahabodhi of Sivali Central College, Rathnapura, won second place in the Junior Category, a feat that highlights his innovative prowess and dedication. Meanwhile, Sineth Daham Bandara Jayasundera from Gateway College, Colombo, and Ramiru Thehan Wijayasiriwardhane of Ananda College Colombo, earned merit awards in the Senior Category, demonstrating their exceptional talent and technical capabilities. Thisath Damiru Abeywickrama of St. Joseph’s College Anuradhapura too, participated at this competition. The Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA) is one of the most respected ICT competitions in the Asia-Pacific region. Established to foster collaboration and elevate the standards of technological development across member countries, APICTA provides a platform for students, professionals, and organisations to showcase their innovative ICT-based solutions. The 2024 edition of APICTA attracted top innovators from 17 economies, including Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and China, making the competition highly intense. Despite the challenging environment, Sri Lanka’s young talents made a significant impact, proving the country’s growing strength in ICT innovation. The students’ journey to APICTA began with the Young Computer Scientist (YCS) 2024 Competition, a program organised by the Software Chapter of Federation of Information Technology (Guarantee) Ltd. (FITIS) in collaboration with the Education Ministry and with the support of University of Colombo School of Computing. The YCS competition serves as a national platform to recognise and nurture ICT talent among school students. It encourages participants to identify real-world problems and develop practical, innovative solutions using technology. The program emphasises not only technical skills but also creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities. The success of these students at APICTA underscores the effectiveness of this initiative in creating a pipeline of globally competitive innovators. FITIS, as the apex body representing Sri Lanka’s ICT industry, has played a pivotal role in driving such programs. The organisation is committed to bridging the gap between education and industry by fostering ICT literacy and empowering the youth to excel in the digital economy. Software Chapter President Sanjaya Dayananda and Vice President Kalinga Ihalagedara attended APICTA 2024 with the students and commented on the high quality of this competition where “our students had to compete against teams from technologically highly developed countries.” Whilst congratulating the winners, FITIS Chairman Indika De Zoysa reaffirmed the association’s commitment to YCS program and highlighted the requirement of young innovators to develop country’s digital economy. FITIS Senior Vice Chairman Dr. Dayan Rajapakse also congratulated the students for their achievements. A leading ICT Education Institute ESOFT Metro Campus where Dr. Dayan is the Chairman/Managing Director, recently joined hands with FITIS, extending its support as the sponsor for the “Title Partner” for YCS competition. Each student brought forward unique and impactful projects that addressed real-world challenges: nDasindu Sithmira Mahabodhi: His award-winning project in the Junior Category utilised advanced technologies to optimise the utilisation of computer resources, when a role-playing computer game which allows users with low specs hardware and low bandwidth connectivity to experience full features of the game. nSineth Daham Bandara Jayasundera: In the Senior Category, Sineth’s project is focused on providing a solution to eliminate the wastage in electrical power consumption, using neural networks. The solution has capability to identify excessive use of electrical current by household devices enabling the owner to switch-off the device or replace it. nRamiru Thehan Wijayasiriwardhane: Ramiru’s project provides a solution to the common problem of watering home plots and school gardens without wasting the precious water. His innovative solution uses IoT technology for automatic watering based on predictive localised weather data. The system checks the soil moisture level and releases water based on predetermined moisture levels after taking into account the weather information. The achievements of these students not only highlight their individual talents but also mark a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s ICT landscape. Their success serves as an inspiration for thousands of young Sri Lankans aspiring to make their mark in the tech industry. These victories also underscore the importance of investing in ICT education and providing platforms for young innovators to excel. As Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its initiatives like YCS and expand access to technology-driven education, the nation is poised to produce even more trailblazers in the global ICT arena. The achievement of these students in APICTA 2024 is a testament to the immense potential of Sri Lanka’s youth and a celebration of the country’s commitment to fostering innovation. With the right support and opportunities, Sri Lanka is set to shine even brighter on the global stage.( MENAFN - Nam News Network) DAMASCUS, Dec 25 (NNN-SANA) – Asaad al-Shaibani, the newly appointed foreign Minister by Syria's interim administration, pledged yesterday, to prioritise serving the people and representing every segment of society, asserting that the country will reclaim its regional and international role. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, al-Shaibani emphasised that, protecting citizens' rights and interests, as well as ensuring fair representation of all ethnic and social groups, will be the“compass” guiding Syria's future. He stated that,“in the new Syria, everyone will feel they belong,” adding that, the state aims to guarantee dignity, freedom, and a return home for those displaced by past conflicts. Acknowledging the struggles endured by the Syrian people, al-Shaibani highlighted“the immense sacrifices and suffering” they have faced. “Our sole tribute to those victims,” he said,“is to ensure such atrocities never happen again and to bring perpetrators to justice.” On Syria's position in the international arena, al-Shaibani stated, he would represent the country“with sincerity and strength,” emphasising the interim government's commitment to creating a“brighter future.” He also urged Syrian youth to contribute to the rebuilding of the country, and to lead it towards innovation and progress. “We require the efforts of all young Syrians to shape the present and map out the future,” he said. In another post on X, al-Shaibani warned Iran against“spreading chaos” in Syria, urging the country to“respect the will of the Syrian people.” Iran has long been a key ally of Bashar al-Assad, the former president of Syria, who was ousted on Dec 8, following a series of offensives launched by a militant coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Al-Shaibani, born in 1987, was appointed on Saturday by the Syrian interim administration, which is supported by HTS. He is known for his pivotal role as the head of HTS's political affairs department.– NNN-SANA MENAFN24122024000200011047ID1109028631 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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WealthBT: Strategic investment insights to navigate 2025Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with HezbollahEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The game had suddenly gone sideways for the Minnesota Vikings , their 11-point lead on the Chicago Bears having evaporated in the closing seconds. They straightened it out in overtime, no sweat, because Sam Darnold simply hasn't been fazed. Save for his occasional rash of turnovers, in games the Vikings still managed to win, Darnold proved again on Sunday in defeating the Bears that he's directing a passing attack with the potential to be one of the NFL 's most potent. “I think he’s a mentally tough guy. I think he’s a physically tough guy. I think he’s confident in the guys around him, and I think he’s confident in our system,” coach Kevin O'Connell said after the 30-27 victory. “I think when he just continues to play quarterback at a high level, I think we’re a tough team.” After the defense forced the Bears to punt on the opening possession of overtime, Darnold led the Vikings on a 68-yard drive to set up the game-ending field goal while overcoming a 7-yard sack on the first play and two subsequent setbacks with a false start and a holding penalty. On third-and-10 from the 21, he hit Jordan Addison near the sideline for 13 yards. On first-and-15 from the 29, Darnold threaded a throw to Justin Jefferson for 20 yards after he'd muscled his way through Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a post route for the clutch catch after he'd been all but silenced all afternoon by a defense determined to constantly bracket him with double coverage. On second-and-11 from the 48, Darnold connected with a wide-open T.J. Hockenson underneath for 12 yards. Then two plays later off a second-and-8 play-action fake, he found Hockenson again on a deep corner route for 29 yards to put Parker Romo in prime position for the walk-off winner. “Just execute. It’s as simple as that. Just one play at a time," said Darnold, who went 22 for 34 for 330 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. “I think I tell the guys that every single time in the huddle, but that’s my mindset every single time I’m out there on the field, especially in that situation.” Even when Jefferson continues to draw an extraordinary amount of coverage , the Vikings with Addison, Hockenson, Aaron Jones and the rest of their crew running O'Connell's system have proven they have an offense that can go win a game when it's required. That wouldn't be possible without Darnold, whose career rebirth has helped spark the Vikings (9-2) become one of the league's biggest surprises in what's now its most difficult division. “He’s cool, calm, collected,” Hockenson said. "That’s what you want as the leader of the huddle.” The Vikings' defense ranks ninth in the league on third downs, allowing a conversion rate of 34.5% after limiting the Bears to a 6-for-17 performance. The Vikings are tied for first on fourth downs with an allowance of 36.4% after the Bears went 2 for 3. Both conversions came in the fourth quarter during touchdown drives. The Vikings also rank fourth in the NFL in opponent points per drive (1.52). The Vikings had seven possessions that crossed the 20-yard line in Chicago, but only three of them yielded touchdowns. Their lone turnover was the type of game-altering giveaways they've struggled to eliminate this month, a fumble by Aaron Jones at the 1-yard line that ruined a promising first drive. The Vikings are tied for 20th in the league in red zone touchdown rate (53.9%) and are 17th in goal-to-go touchdowns (72%). Addison had eight catches for 162 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown on nine throws from Darnold. The second-year wide receiver has had a quieter season than his rookie year, but he stepped up in a significant way on an afternoon when Jefferson was as smothered by the opposing secondary as ever. TE Johnny Mundt had the onside kick glance off his shin as he charged toward the coverage, and the first kicking team recovery in the NFL this season helped the Bears extend the game. Mundt also had the false start on the overtime drive. His lone catch was a 7-yard gain when he was stopped short of the goal line, one play before the lost fumble. Mundt played 33 of 71 snaps and Hockenson took 48 snaps with Oliver out. The Vikings lost LT Cam Robinson (foot) and LB Ivan Pace (hamstring) to injuries in the first quarter against the Bears, and O'Connell said on Monday those players were still in "evaluation mode." Oliver (ankle) will have an opportunity to return after being sidelined last week. 101.7 — Darnold's passer rating, which ranks ninth in the NFL. Darnold has posted a 100-plus passer rating in nine of 11 games this season. He had only 12 such performances in 56 career starts before joining the Vikings. The Vikings have four of their next five games at home, starting with Arizona (6-5) this week, Atlanta (6-5) on Dec. 8 and a rematch with Chicago (4-7) in a Monday night game on Dec. 16. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Call to exempt listed firms from tax on M&As
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He's just always there when you need him.” Sutton's size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he's in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix's first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe's 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton's hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn't targeted a single time in Denver's 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn't pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he's caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we're just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders' run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Once again, the Broncos' special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn't missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Payton isn't saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they're not serious setbacks for either player. 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams faced fourth-and-5 at the Buffalo 35 with a 38-35 lead and just under four minutes to play Sunday in their high-octane showdown with the Bills. Sean McVay is often a conservative coach, and it would not have been surprising to see him try a long field goal, or even punt. He kept his offense on the field, and Matthew Stafford calmly went through his progression before finding Tutu Atwell across the middle for an 11-yard gain that played a major role in the Rams' ability to hold on for a season-altering, 44-42 victory over the powerhouse Bills . “We felt like we needed to make it a two-possession game,” McVay said Monday. “They were rolling. We talked about aggressively going to win that game. ... It was just a reflection of the confidence in that group and what we felt like we needed to do to be able to win the game.” The Rams offense has earned the confidence McVay showed in it at that crucial moment. That unit hasn't always been good this season, entering last weekend rated just 18th in the league, but the Rams finally are mostly healthy heading down the stretch — and Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams are again playing at last season's Pro Bowl level. That was bad news for Buffalo, and it could mean trouble for the rest of the NFC if the Rams (7-6) can keep scoring like this. Los Angeles will hope to keep this offensive momentum on a short week heading to San Francisco on Thursday night. Nacua said it was “fantastic being able to feel like, man, this is what it feels like when the Rams are moving and connecting on all cylinders.” Los Angeles had six scoring drives of at least 65 yards while racking up 457 yards against Buffalo. Stafford had a season-high 320 yards passing, while Nacua had another spectacular game with 162 yards receiving and two touchdowns along with 16 yards rushing and another TD on five carries. Incredibly, it was the Rams’ first 40-point game with Stafford behind center. Thanks to that stellar offensive performance, the Rams are above .500 for the first time all season and just one game back of Seattle (8-5) in the NFC West after winning six of their past eight games. A team that appeared to be headed for a grim season after a 1-4 start is still firmly in the playoff race, also trailing Washington (8-5) by just one game for the final wild-card spot. “It’s cool to be able to play meaningful football in December,” said McVay, who led the Rams to five playoff berths in his first seven seasons. "You never take that for granted.” The offense hummed largely because it went 11 of 15 on third downs. That's the Rams' highest success rate in a game since 2001 — and don't forget that crucial fourth down conversion, either. Few teams can stop Josh Allen, but the Rams' defense didn't come close. The defensive backs particularly struggled, from Darious Williams getting beaten repeatedly in coverage to Quentin Lake's 34-yard pass-interference penalty in the final moments. Two weeks after Philadelphia dropped 481 yards at SoFi Stadium, Buffalo had 445 to push the Rams down to 26th in total defense entering Monday. The Rams' offensive line has struggled mightily at times this season, but it allowed no sacks and just three hits on Stafford while clearing the way for 137 yards rushing. With full health, the line is no longer a liability. Edge rusher Byron Young had a rough outing that included two penalties on Buffalo's first drive — an egregious late hit on Allen and a defensive offside that negated a 2-yard Bills loss on second down from the LA 1. The Rams' overall defensive discipline was repeatedly poor, and it cost them. CB Cobie Durant has a bruised lung, McVay revealed Monday. The Rams are uncertain whether it will prevent him from playing Thursday. Durant has started all 13 games this season. ... WR Demarcus Robinson sprained his shoulder against Buffalo, but kept playing. 1 — The numbers of NFL games played with two teams scoring at least 40 points and making no turnovers. The Rams and Bills made history. The 49ers haven't been this vulnerable in four years, but Kyle Shanahan has had McVay's number throughout their careers — notwithstanding the Rams' 27-24 comeback win in September when both teams' top offensive playmakers were all injured. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLBEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. People are also reading... “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. Shoppers say they want eco-friendly products, so why aren't they buying them? Shoppers say they want eco-friendly products, so why aren't they buying them? On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. Barriers to sustainable shopping There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Vikings staying on track and in control behind Sam Darnold's composure and confidence
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Garrett Wilson has experienced a lot of losing in his three seasons with the New York Jets. Ten losses in his rookie year. Ten last year. And 10 — and counting — this season. The latest came Sunday, when New York held a late lead at Miami but blew it and lost, something that has been an embarrassingly way too common theme. “When you’re up in the fourth quarter, all of a sudden it starts to feel like you have a losing problem,” the wide receiver said after the Jets’ 32-26 overtime loss . “You have a gene or some (thing).” It’s as good a theory as any at this point, especially for frustrated fans who have watched the Jets (3-10) miss the postseason for 14 straight years . It’s the longest active drought in the NFL, a skid that also currently tops any franchise in the NBA, WNBA, NHL or Major League Baseball. “Losing hurts in general,” right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker said Monday. “So when you stack up those L’s, that’s obviously not where anybody in this building wants to be. That’s not anybody’s standard at all.” Instead, these Jets are setting dubious marks. They have lost a franchise-worst five games in which they held a fourth-quarter lead. And they’ve done it in three straight games. RELATED COVERAGE Mayfield says streaking Bucs will have to play even better down the stretch to return to playoffs Steelers believe they’re Super Bowl contenders. The next 3 weeks will see if they’re right Tua Tagovailoa’s strong play has helped keep the Dolphins’ playoff hopes alive New York has nine consecutive losing seasons, also the longest active skid in the NFL. The Jets couldn’t even enjoy what interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday was Aaron Rodgers’ “best performance of the season.” The 41-year-old quarterback threw for 339 yards — ending a 34-game 300-yard passing drought in the regular season — and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams. It wasn’t enough. Not when the defense and special teams were having costly breakdowns. Again, with the Jets holding a late lead. And losing. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . “I wouldn’t say more frustrating, but probably equally frustrating,” Ulbrich said of the latest loss. “There has been, in my opinion, seven games that have come down to the end of the game and have been within one score and we didn’t get it done, and for a lot of different reasons when you look at the span of that seven games. “But we haven’t been good enough in those moments, and we need to be.” What’s working The passing game. The Jets’ offense with Rodgers hasn’t been nearly as dynamic through the air as most expected. But it has come alive lately, and probably not coincidentally with Rodgers overcoming some nagging leg injuries. The 300-yard game at Miami had Rodgers looking more like the vintage version of the four-time MVP. He was 27 of 39 passing with a season-high 8.7 yards per attempt, leading the Jets to a season-best 402 total yards. “I thought he did a very good job, and obviously the statistics would support that,” Ulbrich said. “He had an excellent day. I thought the offense had probably their best performance of the year.” What needs help Defense vs. the screen. Tua Tagovailoa made quick work of the Jets’ defense with a quick release and the Dolphins’ use of screen passes. Ulbrich counted 12 of them. “I’ve never been a part of a game like that,” he said. Ulbrich credited Miami for offsetting New York’s aggressive front and slowing it. “I’m taking a hard look at our screen defense,” he said. “We need to be better vs. the screens. Sometimes that’s from an execution standpoint and that’s sometimes from a call standpoint. So we’ve got to make sure that that type of day doesn’t occur for the defense. And I have a big part of that.” Stock up LB Jamien Sherwood. With C.J. Mosley going down with various injuries, Sherwood’s playing time has increased in his fourth season — and he has produced. He had 18 total tackles, including 13 solo, against the Dolphins and added to his team-leading season total. Sherwood became the first player in the NFL to have 18 or more tackles, two or more for losses and one pass defensed since Denver’s Alex Singleton did so in Week 6 of the 2022 season. Stock down Special teams. Anders Carlson made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a go-ahead 42-yarder with 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter. But his kickoff on the ensuing play was returned 45 yards by Malik Washington, helping set up Jason Sanders’ 42-yarder with 7 seconds remaining. Carlson acknowledged he was supposed to kick into the end zone for a touchback but mis-hit it. The coverage unit also fell flat in limiting Washington’s return. Injuries Ulbrich had no new information on the injuries to RT Morgan Moses, who hurt his left wrist in pregame warmups and left after the first half, or special teams ace Irvin Charles (knee). ... RB Breece Hall (knee) and CB Sauce Gardner missed the game, but Ulbrich said “I’d like to think they’ve got a chance” to play Sunday at Jacksonville. Key number 0 — The Jets had no hits on Tagovailoa, who threw 47 times. “As soon as he snapped the ball, the ball was gone,” Sherwood said. What’s next New York heads to Jacksonville next Sunday, when the loser will move up in the draft order. The Jets currently hold the No. 7 spot, according to tankathon.com, while the Jaguars (3-10) are at No. 5 entering Monday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLTravelodge boss says Labour’s Budget has made creating part-time jobs more expensiveFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.